Events Calendar

Summer Programs Overview

Learn more about what we offer, who is eligible and what is required. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is offering Summer Programs in Acting, All-Female Jazz, Dance, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, The Second City Comedy and Improv, Songwriting and Vocal Music. The classes are being held from June 29 through August 14and extended day options are available for most programs. Discover, create and grow in the arts at NJPAC this Summer! Click here for program overview.

Young Artist Summer Intensive (YASI)

Young Artist Summer Intensive (YASI)

An unforgettable summer awaits you at NJPAC’s Young Artist Summer Intensive (formerly Summer Youth Performance Workshop)! Develop your inner artist by taking classes in acting, dance, musical theater, and vocal performance. Classes are taught by professional artists and provide students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a supportive and engaging learning environment at NJPAC’s Center for Arts Education.

Apprentice Division is a two-week performing arts intensive for beginning and intermediate young artists. Students will take classes in acting, dance, musical theater, and vocal performance. Apprentice Division students will create and participate in a culminating performance project that will be presented in NJPAC’s Horizon Theater on the final day of each session - on July 24 and August 7, 2015 at 6:00 PM. No audition is required.

Advanced Division is a five-week performing arts intensive where students major in one of the following disciplines – acting, dance, musical theater or vocal performance. In-depth study in the major is supported with complimentary classes in the other disciplines. Students will receive coaching to prepare them for college and careers in the performing arts. Advanced Division students showcase their skills in a performance on the Victoria Theater Stage at NJPAC on July 30, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Candidates will be required to participate in a live audition at NJPAC’s Center for Arts Education. Students applying for multiple disciplines should contact NJPAC for further instructions.

All-Female Jazz Residency

Ages: 14-25
Residency Dates: July 5 – July 11, 2015 (one week)
Drop-Off Date/Time: July 5, 2015 between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Pick-Up Date/Time: July 11, 2015, latest pick-up time: 2:00 PM
Performance Date: morning of July 11, 2015
Tuition: $1,400.00 (includes room, board and tuition)
Non-Resident Tuition: $1,050.00 (cost of program only; does not include housing, must bring own meals)
(Receive up to 10% off by enrolling in two or more programs.)Application Fee: $25.00
Application Deadline: May 4, 2015Contact: artseducation@njpac.org or (973) 353-7058

This summer, join NJPAC and jazz legend Geri Allen at a one-of-a-kind opportunity for young women from across the country. Students participating in this one-week all-female jazz residency will receive a unique blend of instruction and mentorship as they are taught in the areas of improvisation, musicianship, jazz theory and more by some of the most respected female jazz musicians in the industry. The students will live on a college campus in a residence hall at Montclair State University, located in Montclair, NJ – an “urban suburb” home to an eclectic group of writers, artists, and musicians. Students will also experience a live jazz performance in New York City and participate in a culminating performance on July 11, 2015 at the conclusion of the residency.

The Second City at NJPAC

NJPAC is excited to collaborate with The Second City this summer to bring programs in Improv and Comedy to teens and adults alike! Based in Chicago since 1959, The Second City is a world renowned comedy enterprise, which helped launch the careers of stars like Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Mike Myers.

Explore the fundamentals of improvisation as taught and performed at The Second City. Develop skills like creative thinking, self-confidence, listening, brainstorming, team building, empathy and communication, while having loads of fun and laughs.

Are you looking to fully experience the vitality of creating sketches and improvisation? Are you a local who wants to spend some time exploring improvisation and writing? The Second City/NJPAC Improvisation and Comedy Writing immersion programs attract students from all over the country and abroad. Come learn new skills and meet new friends.

From the Inside Out:
The Second City and NJPAC are also proud to present From the Inside Out. This groundbreaking program offers a class in improvisation for teens diagnosed with Aspergers’ Syndrome and/or Autism. Classes will focus on ensemble and team building that will help with the exploration of different relationships and social cues. Improvisational games used in this class will teach the students skills such as accessing emotions and storytelling. This will be done in a safe and fun environment where the students can explore and challenge themselves. Improvisation is a great tool to use to break through several barriers which stand in the way of creativity and socialization.

Ages: 15-18
Program Dates: August 3 – August 14, 2015
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Tuition: $1,000.00
(Receive up to 10% off by enrolling in two or more programs.)
Extended Day: $100.00 per week
Application Fee: $25.00
Technology Fee: $25.00 (to be paid upon enrollment)
Application Deadline: May 4, 2015
Contact: artseducation@njpac.org or (973) 353-7058

Learn all aspects of the art of songwriting, from composing that first lyric to releasing your newly recorded single. Students will participate in the composition, creation, recording, marketing strategy and commercial release of a master recording single and receive training in audio recording techniques from professional songwriters and music producers. Gain inside knowledge about the music industry from featured guests who have been involved in the careers of Taylor Swift and Cee Lo Green. The workshop culminates in a “Single Release Party” where guests of the students will be invited to hear their original works in a performance setting.

Hip-Hop Institute

Ages: 11-15
Program Dates: June 29 – July 10, 2015
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Orientation: August 1
Tuition: $650.00
(Receive up to 10% off by enrolling in two or more programs.)
Extended Day: $100.00 per week
Application Fee: $25.00
Application Deadline: May 4, 2015
Contact: artseducation@njpac.org or (973) 353-7058

Immerse yourself in the diverse and exhilarating art of Hip-Hop in this hands-on and comprehensive institute. Students will learn all aspects of Hip-Hop, including MCing, DJing, graffiti, breakdancing, beatboxing, spoken word, sound engineering, and more! As participants engage with all of these elements, they will better their understanding of the rich history of Hip-Hop and explore how this art form came to be such a significant part of American culture. Students walk away with a well-rounded, practical experience that proves Hip-Hop is a powerful vehicle for self-awareness and expression.